Energy producing chimney cap

ABSTRACT

A chimney cap provides not only protective features of conventional chimney caps, but may also provide energy production. The chimney cap may include one or more wind turbines that may capture wind energy and, with associated generators, may convert the wind energy to electricity. The chimney cap may also include one or more solar panels which may capture solar energy and convert that energy into electricity. A control box may receive the electricity from the generators and the solar panels and may provide the energy to a home, business, a storage device, the electric grid, or the like.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/440,819, filed Feb. 8, 2011, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to chimney caps and, more particularly, to a chimney cap that may produce energy from wind energy, solar energy, or a combination thereof.

Conventional chimney caps are often used to limit precipitation, such as rain and snow, from entering the chimney. Also, conventional chimney caps are often used to prevent animals, such as birds and rodents, from entering the chimney. These caps may be adapted to fit onto the exit of a chimney flue. Typically, these conventional chimney caps offer no additional functions unrelated to protecting the chimney flue.

As can be seen, there is a need for a chimney cap that may be used for other functions, such as power generation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, a chimney cap comprises one or more electricity generating devices, the chimney cap adapted to attach to a chimney.

In another aspect of the present invention, a chimney cap comprises a first chamber fitting over a chimney, the first chamber adapted to receive exhaust from a flue of the chimney and expel the exhaust to the atmosphere; a second chamber, disposed on the first chamber, containing one or more electricity generators; a heat shield disposed between the first and second chambers; a third chamber, disposed on the second chamber, containing one or more wind turbines; a roof, disposed over the third chamber, containing one or more solar panels.

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an energy producing chimney cap according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation view of the energy producing chimney cap of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a block diagram schematically showing the components of the energy producing energy chimney cap of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.

Various inventive features are described below that can each be used independently of one another or in combination with other features.

Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a chimney cap that may provide not only features of conventional chimney caps, but may also provide energy production. The chimney cap may include one or more wind turbines that may capture wind energy and, with associated generators, may convert the wind energy to electricity. The chimney cap may also include one or more solar panels which may capture solar energy and convert that energy into electricity. A control box may receive the electricity from the generators and the solar panels and may provide the energy to a home, business, a storage device, the electric grid, or the like.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, an energy producing chimney cap 10 (also referred to as chimney cap 10 or simply cap 10) may include a first chamber 30 for receiving exhaust from a flue 14 of a chimney 12. The first chamber may include a top heat barrier 17 to limit heat transfer to a second chamber 32. The first chamber 30 may be enclosed in a wire mesh 22 to prevent animals, debris and the like from entering the flue 14 and to allow exhaust gases to escape.

The second chamber 32, disposed above the heat barrier 17 of the first chamber 30, may include one or more generators 26. The second chamber 32 may be housed in an enclosure 23, typically a solid enclosure. An access door 25 may be disposed on at least one side of the chimney cap 10 to permit access to the second chamber 32. Typically, from one to six generators 26, usually about two generators 26 may be disposed in the second chamber 32.

The third chamber 34, disposed above the second chamber 32, may include one or more wind turbines 24. Typically, from about one to six wind turbines 24, usually about two wind turbines 24, may be disposed in the third chamber 34. In some embodiments, the number of generators 26 and wind turbines 24 will match, where each wind turbine 24 is mechanically connected to each generator 26. The wind turbines 24 may be conventional wind capturing devices, such as blade-type turbines, fin-type turbines and the like. The wind turbines 24 may turn when an air stream is directed in the direction of the turbines 24, such as that caused by wind. The wind turbines 24 may connect to respective generators 26 by, for example, a shaft (not shown) that extends from the third chamber 34 to the second chamber 32. The third chamber 34 may be encased in the wire mesh 22, thereby allowing wind to pass therethrough while restricting animals and debris from interfering with the wind turbines 24.

A roof 18 of the chimney cap 10 may include one or more solar panels 20. In some embodiments, the solar panels 20 may be oriented to maximize the capture of solar rays. In other embodiments, the solar panels 20 may cover each section of the roof 18 to capture solar rays regardless of installation orientation.

Referring to FIG. 3, the solar panels 20 and the generators 26 may be connected to a control box 28. The control box 28 may receive electricity generated by the solar panels 20 and the generators 26 and convert that electricity to usable power of the proper frequency and voltage. For example, the control box 28 may convert the electricity from the generators 26 and solar panels 20 to 110 Volt alternating current (VAC) at 60 Hertz (Hz). The control box 28 may deliver electricity to a home, business, a storage device (such as one or more capacitors, one or more batteries, or the like), or to the electrical grid.

It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A chimney cap comprising: one or more electricity generating devices, the chimney cap adapted to attach to a chimney.
 2. The chimney cap of claim 1, further comprising: one or more solar panels on a roof of the chimney cap.
 3. The chimney cap of claim 1, further comprising: one or more wind turbines adapted to turn by blowing wind; and one or more generators, attached to the wind turbines, adapted to generate electricity from the rotation of the wind turbines.
 4. The chimney cap of claim 1, further comprising: one or more solar panels on a roof of the chimney cap; one or more wind turbines adapted to turn by blowing wind; and one or more generators, attached to the wind turbines, adapted to generate electricity from the rotation of the wind turbines.
 5. The chimney cap of claim 1, further comprising a heat shield disposed between the chimney and the one or more electricity generating devices.
 6. The chimney cap of claim 3, further comprising wire mesh encasing a chamber of the chimney cap, the chamber enclosing the wind turbines.
 7. The chimney cap of claim 2, further comprising an access door permitting access to the one or more generators enclosed in a generator chamber of the chimney cap.
 8. The chimney cap of claim 1, further comprising a control box to receive electricity produced from the one or more electricity generating devices and provide electricity at a desired voltage and frequency.
 9. A chimney cap comprising: a first chamber fitting over a chimney, the first chamber adapted to receive exhaust from a flue of the chimney and expel the exhaust to the atmosphere; a second chamber, disposed on the first chamber, containing one or more electricity generators; a heat shield disposed between the first and second chambers; a third chamber, disposed on the second chamber, containing one or more wind turbines; a roof, disposed over the third chamber, containing one or more solar panels.
 10. The chimney cap of claim 9, further comprising a wire mesh encasing the first chamber and the third chamber. 